Notice of Intent - Inficon Hapsite Portable GC/MS and Vaporsafe Stationary GC

Under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intends to require, on a sole source basis, a brand name requirement for rental of an Inficon Hapsite Portable Gas Chromatography (GC)/Mass Spectrometry (MS) unit and Vaporsafe Stationary GC unit.

This NOI is combined for two (2) separate items to be procured by separate contractors.  Both rental units will be used to measure trichloroethylene (TCE) levels at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), Hanover, NH.

The Inficon Hapsite is the only field portable GC/MS that can detect TCE down to .5 ug/m3, that is field portable or stationary, has been through regulatory prove-outs in the state of NH with NHDES, CRREL. Other  units capable of detecting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) down to 1 ug/m3 are either stationary GC/MSs and would require onsite training, additional supplies to utilize the GC/MS, and additional trial/prove-out/calibration tests to ensure system is operating correctly.

Vaporsafe GC is the only gas chromatograph that can detect TCE down to 1 ug/m3, that has been field verified at the site via pilot test in 2018. The GC can run up to 15 fixed location samples (total of 30 samples with optional manifold) on a 24/7 basis. Similar fixed GC units do not have the capacity to run continuous samples (up to 30) on a 24/7 basis while allowing 24/7 access to data via dashboard. The system would be used to detect TCE at fixed locations where TCE is the highest. This setup would be used in conjunction with existing Hapsite Monitoring (field portable units). A full time operator is not required to maintain this unit except for initial setup/breakdown and data downloads each day.

The intent of the sole source requirement is to provide a portable and stationary GC/MS on a temporary basis (rental up to 6 months) that can measure TCE levels down to .5 ug/m3 and 1 ug/m3.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. It is a market research tool being used to determine the availability of other qualified sources that can meet the requirements identified above and inherent with the referenced Inficon Hapsite Portable GC/MS and Vaporsafe Stationary GC. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice of intent. All responses received within 15 days of the posting of this notice of intent will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government to require the brand name for the Inficon Hapsite GC/MS and Vaporsafe GC based on this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to allow alternate system manufacturers.

Submit any inquiries within 15 days of the posting of this notice of intent via email to: Jennifer.M.Samela@usace.army.mil (list W912WJ24X0037 GC/MS in the subject line of the email).